Microsoft has updated the capabilities of Azure Resource Manager to include to automatic shutdown on VMs. The new feature allows users to schedule the shutdown of any ARM-based VM in a few clicks.

This functionality was previously only available using Azure DevTest Labs. However, the policy quickly became number one on the service,which prompted Microsoft to open it out to ARM.

“We learned from quite a few customers that they have their centrally managed Dev/Test workloads already running in Azure and simply want to set auto-shutdown for those VMs,” said Xiaoying Guo, senior program manager, Azure DevTest Labs. “Since those workloads have already been provisioned and managed centrally, self-service is not really needed. It’s a little bit overkill for them to create a DevTest lab in this case just for the auto-shutdown settings.”

How to Enable Auto Shutdown in Azure Resource Manager

Thankfully, Microsoft has made it very simple to enable auto-shutdown this time around. Do get started, you simply have to complete the following steps:

“Go to your VM blade in Azure portal.

Click Auto-shutdown in the resource menu on the left-side.

You will see an auto-shutdown settings page expanded, where you can specify the auto-shutdown time and time zone. You can also configure to send notification to your webhook URL 15 minutes before auto-shutdown. This post illustrates how you can set up an Azure logic app to send auto-shutdown notification.”

Unfortunately, some users may not yet have access to the functionality. Auto-shutdown is currently limited to the regions DevTest Labs supports. Users in the west-central US region, as well as Canada, Germany, and the UK, will have to wait.

You may not have to wait long, however – Guo says it’s on the to-do-list for after thanksgiving. Users have also been calling for the Auto-startup feature, so it’s possible that will come in the future.

Ryan has had a passion for gaming and technology since early childhood. Fusing the skills from his Creative Writing and Publishing degree with profound technical knowledge, he enjoys covering news about Microsoft. As an avid writer, he is also working on his debut novel.